arts804022008.htm
As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2008
Registration
No. 333-
UNITED
STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ARRHYTHMIA
RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification
Number)
|
25 Sawyer
Passway, Fitchburg, MA 01420; (978) 345-5000
(Address,
including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code,
of registrant’s principal executive offices)
ARRHYTHMIA
RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY, INC. 2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full
title of the plan)
David A.
Garrison
Chief
Financial Officer
Arrhythmia
Research Technology, Inc.
25 Sawyer
Passway
Fitchburg,
MA 01420
(Name and
address of agent for service)
(978)
345-5000
(Telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies
to:
Kathleen
Cerveny, Esq.
Ellenoff
Grossman & Schole, LLP
1133
Connecticut Ave., NW, 11th
Floor
Washington,
DC 20036
Telephone: (202)
719-8919
Facsimile: (202)
478-1640
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Large
accelerated filer
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Accelerated
filer
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Non-accelerated
filer
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Smaller
reporting company [ X
]
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(Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
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CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
of Securities
To
Be Registered
|
Amount
To
Be
Registered
|
Proposed
Maximum Offering
Price
Per Share
|
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
|
Amount
of
Registration
Fee
|
Common
Stock, $.01 par value
|
200,000
shares (1)
|
$ 5.95(2)
|
$ 1,190,000(2)
|
$
46.77
|
Common
Stock, $.01 par value
|
200,000
shares (3)
|
(3)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(1) |
Pursuant to Rule 416
under the Securitites Act of 1933, as amended, an indeterminate amount of
additional shares of common stock, which may become issuable pursuant to
the anti-dilution provisions of the 2001 Stock Option Plan, as amended
(the "Plan") are also being registered hereunder. The shares being
registered consist of the following shares, which may be reoffered and
resold from time to time: (a) an aggregate of 200,000 shares pursuant to
amendment of the 2001 Stock Option Plan on May 11, 2007, (b) an aggregate
of 197,000 shares registered on Form S-8 (File No. 333-111326) which
registration statement is incorporated herein by reference, and (c) an
aggregate of 3,000 shares registered on Form S-8 (File No. 333-120329)
which registration statement is incorporated herein by
reference. |
(2) |
Estimated solely for
the purpose of calculating the registration fee, pursuant to Rule 457(c)
and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The price
per share and aggregate offering price are based on the average of the
high and low prices of Registrant's common stock as reported on the
American Stock Exchange on March 31, 2008. |
(3) |
Represents the same
shares described in the line above, which may be resold by the
holder. |
(4) |
Pursuant to Rule
457(h)(3), no additional fee is payable since the shares, which may be
offered for resale, are the same shares being registered hereby upon their
initial issuance pursuant to the Plan. |
This
registration statement is being filed pursuant to General Instruction E to Form
S-8 to reflect that the Board of Directors and majority of the stockholders of
Arrhythmia Research Technology, Inc. (the “Company”) have amended the Company’s
2001 Stock Option Plan (as amended, the “Plan”). This amendment
increased the number of shares included in the Plan by 200,000 shares of common
stock issuable upon exercise of options, which may be granted pursuant to the
Plan. The Company hereby incorporates by reference the contents of
its registration statement (a) on Form S-8, File No. 333-111326, as to 197,000
shares issuable pursuant to options granted or to be granted under the Plan, and
(b) on Form S-8, File No. 333-120329, as to 3,000 shares previously issued on
exercise of options granted under the 2001 Stock Option Plan.
This
Registration Statement contains several parts. Immediately following
Part I is a “Reoffer Prospectus,” which has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of Part I of Form S-3 (as required by Section C.1 of the General
Instructions to Form S-8). The Reoffer Prospectus will be used for
reoffers and resales by control persons or affiliates of the Company of shares
of common stock of the Company to be issued upon exercise of options granted or
to be granted pursuant to the Plan. The next part contains information required
in the registration statement pursuant to Part II of Form S-8.
Pursuant
to the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8, the plan information, which
constitutes part of the “Plan Prospectus,” is not being filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
PART
I
The
Company will send or give document(s) containing the information specified in
Part I to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). These
documents are not required to be filed as part of this Registration
Statement.
ITEM
2.
|
REGISTRANT
INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL
INFORMATION
|
Upon
written or oral request by a participant in the 2001 Stock Option Plan, as
amended, the Company will provide any of the documents incorporated by reference
into the Section 10(a) prospectus, without charge. Any document
required to be delivered to the participants pursuant to Rule 428(b) will also
be delivered without charge.
|
ARRYTHMIA
RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY, INC.
|
|
397,000
Shares of Common Stock
|
This
prospectus is being used in connection with the offering from time to time by
certain selling stockholders of Arrhythmia Research Technology, Inc. (the
“Company”) or their successors in interest of shares of the common stock which
may be acquired upon the exercise of stock options issued or to be issued
pursuant to the Company’s 2001 Stock Option Plan, as amended (the
“Plan”).
The common stock may be sold from time
to time by the selling stockholders or by their pledgees, donees, transferees or
other successors in interest. Such sales may be made on a stock exchange, in the
over-the-counter market or otherwise at prices and at terms then prevailing or
at prices related to the then current market price, or in negotiated
transactions. The common stock may be sold by one or more of the
following: (a) block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged
will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell portions of
the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by a broker
or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account
pursuant to this prospectus; (c) an exchange distribution in accordance with the
rules of such exchange; and (d) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions
in which the broker solicits purchases. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers
engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to
participate. Brokers or dealers will receive commissions or discounts
from selling stockholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the
sale. Such brokers or dealers and any other participating
brokers or dealers may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) in connection with such
sales. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which
qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144 rather than
pursuant to this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the
sale of these shares, but we will receive proceeds to the extent that currently
outstanding options are exercised. We have paid the expenses of
preparing this prospectus and the related registration statement.
The closing sales price of our common
stock, trading under the symbol “HRT”, on March 31, 2008 as reported by the
American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”) was $ 6.10.
_____________________
Investing
in any of our securities involves risks. Please read carefully the section
entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of this prospectus.
These
securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any state securities commission now has the Commission or any
state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
____________________
The date
of this Prospectus is April 2, 2008.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
No
person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations, other than those contained in this prospectus, in connection
with the offering made hereby, and, if given or made, such information or
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company
or any other person. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any
sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create any implication that
there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date
hereof.
Forward-Looking
Statements
Some of
the statements set forth in this prospectus are forward-looking
statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or
achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such
factors include, among other things, those listed under “Risk Factors” and
elsewhere in this prospectus.
In some cases, you can identify
forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,”
“expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,”
“potential,” “proposed,” “intended,” or “continue” or the negative of these
terms or other comparable terminology. You should read statements
that contain these words carefully, because they discuss our expectations about
our future operating results or our future financial condition or state other
“forward-looking” information. There may be events in the future that
we are not able to accurately predict or control. Before you invest
in our securities, you should be aware that the occurrence of any of the events
described in these risk factors and elsewhere in this prospectus could
substantially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition,
and that upon the occurrence of any of these events, the trading price of our
securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your
investment. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in
the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future
results, growth rates, levels of activity, performance or
achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the
forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus to conform these
statements to actual results.
The
following summary contains basic information about Arrhythmia Research
Technology, Inc. and this prospectus. It may not contain all of the
information that is important to you. For a more complete understanding,
we encourage you to read the entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by
reference into this prospectus. In this prospectus, the words “ART,” “Company,”
“we,” “our” and “us” refer to Arrhythmia Research Technology, Inc. and our
consolidated subsidiary.
Common
stock outstanding before the offering
|
2,711,680
shares (1)
|
Common
stock issuable upon exercise of options granted or to be granted which may
be offered pursuant to this prospectus
|
397,000
|
AMEX
symbol for common stock
|
HRT
|
Use
of proceeds
|
We
will not receive any proceeds from the sales of these
shares. We will receive proceeds to the extent that currently
outstanding options are exercised. We will use the exercise
proceeds, if any, for working capital and general corporate
purposes.
|
Risk
factors
|
There
are risks associated with an investment in the common stock offered by
this prospectus. You should carefully consider the risk factors
described in this prospectus in the “Risk Factors” section before making a
decision to invest.
|
Executive
offices
|
Our
executive offices are located at 25 Sawyer Passway, Fitchburg,
MA 01420; telephone: (978)
345-5000.
|
(1) As of
March 21, 2008. Does not include shares of common stock issuable upon
exercise of options.
We file
annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read
and copy, upon payment of a fee set by the SEC, any documents that we file with
the SEC as its public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington,
D.C. 20549. You may also call the SEC at 1-800-432-0330 for more
information on the public reference rooms. Our filings are also available to the
public on the Internet through the SEC's EDGAR database. You may
access the EDGAR database at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
This
prospectus is part of Registration Statement on Form S-8 that we have filed with
the SEC to register the common stock offered hereby under the Act. As permitted
by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information contained
in the registration statement and accompanying exhibits and schedules that we
file with the SEC. You may refer to the registration statement, the
exhibits and schedules for more information about us and our common stock. The
registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC's public
reference rooms or through its EDGAR database on the Internet.
The
following documents, together with any amendments thereof, filed with the SEC
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange
Act”) are incorporated herein by reference:
(a)
|
Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed
with the SEC on March 31, 2007;
|
(b)
|
The
description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on
Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on February 12, 1992, including any amendment
or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description;
and
|
(c)
|
All
other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) and 15(d) of
the Exchange Act prior to the sale of all of the shares covered by this
registration statement.
|
Any statement contained in a document
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this
prospectus.
We will provide without charge to each
person to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of
that person, a copy of all documents incorporated by reference into the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, other than
exhibits to those documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated
by reference into such documents). Requests for such documents should be
directed to Secretary, Arrhythmia Research Technology, Inc., 25 Sawyer Passway,
Fitchburg, MA 01420, telephone: (978) 345-5000.
Arrhythmia
Research Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("ART"), is engaged in the
development of medical software, which acquires data and analyzes electrical
impulses of the heart to detect and aid in the treatment of potentially lethal
arrhythmias. ART’s patented products consist of signal-averaging
electrocardiographic (SAECG) software whose proprietary Windows based version is
named the Predictorâ
series. Rather than having a direct sales force, our current intent
is to market ART’s product through licensing with original equipment
manufacturers. No sales of the software have been recorded in 2007 or
2006.
Our SAECG
product is currently used in a National Institutes for Health (“NIH”) funded
investigation into “Risk Stratification in MADIT II Type
Patients”. At the completion of this study and assuming favorable
study results, we intend to establish contracts with original equipment
manufacturers for this product.
Sudden
cardiac death afflicts over 400,000 individuals in the United States each
year. Sudden death is due to sustained ventricular tachycardia
(abnormally rapid heartbeat) or ventricular fibrillation (very fast, completely
irregular heartbeat), which severely affect the capability of the heart’s
pumping chambers or ventricles. Electric signals that emanate from
the heart are used to detect the presence of Late Potentials, which may indicate
a risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. The SAECG
processes enable Late Potentials to be amplified and enhanced, while eliminating
undesired electrical noise in these tests.
ART’s
wholly owned subsidiary, Micron Products, Inc., a Massachusetts
corporation (“Micron”), is a manufacturer and distributor of silver plated
and non-silver plated conductive resin sensors ("sensors") used in the
manufacture of disposable integrated electrodes constituting a part of
electrocardiographic diagnostic and monitoring
instruments. Micron also acts as a distributor of metal snap
fasteners ("snaps"), another component used in the manufacture of
disposable electrodes. The sensors are a critical component of
the signal pathway in many different types of disposable
electrodes. For example, the disposable electrodes used to
capture the electric impulses of the heart and enable the analysis of Late
Potentials require sensors which provide for an accurate, low noise signal
to be transmitted to the monitoring device. Micron also
manufactures and sells or leases assembly machines to its sensor and snap
customers.
|
|
|
Figure
1: Schematic of Integtrated ECG
Electrode.
|
ART’s
wholly owned subsidiary, Micron Products, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation
(“Micron”), is a manufacturer and distributor of silver plated and non-silver
plated conductive resin sensors ("sensors") used in the manufacture of
disposable integrated electrodes constituting a part of electrocardiographic
diagnostic and monitoring instruments. Micron also acts as a
distributor of metal snap fasteners ("snaps"), another component used in the
manufacture of disposable electrodes. The sensors are a critical
component of the signal pathway in many different types of disposable
electrodes. For example, the disposable electrodes used to capture
the electric impulses of the heart and enable the analysis of Late Potentials
require sensors which provide for an accurate, low noise signal to be
transmitted to the monitoring device. Micron also manufactures and
sells or leases assembly machines to its sensor and snap customers.
Micron is
the largest of a few companies providing silver / silver-chloride sensors to the
medical device industry. Micron’s customers manufacture monitoring
and transmitting electrodes which are utilized in a variety of bio-feedback and
bio-stimulation applications including, among many others, electrocardiograms
(ECG’s), electroencephalograms (EEG’s), electro-muscular stimulation (EMS), and
thermo-electrical neural stimulation (TENS). Micron also produces
high volume precision plastic products. These high volume products
leverage the production skills for the resin sensors while providing a
diversification from the dependence on a single product line.
In 2004,
Micron completed the purchase of substantially all of the operating assets of
privately held Shrewsbury Molders Inc. formerly known as New England Molders,
Inc. of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts forming the New England Molders ("NEM")
division of Micron. This division is a custom thermoplastic injection
molder that produces a wide variety of consumable medical products, medical
device and equipment components, and other products for the consumer,
electronic, aerospace, and defense industries. The NEM division is
located at the Company’s Fitchburg complex in a renovated 100 year old brick
mill building. The location provides operational synergies between
Micron and NEM in manufacturing and administration. In early 2007, a
class 100,000 level clean room was constructed for precision injection molding
to meet NEM’s new customer requirement. This manufacturing space was
fully operational in February 2007.
The
Leominster Tool Division (“LTD”), formed following the December 2006 purchase of
substantially all of the operating assets of privately held Leominster Tool
Company, Inc., vertically integrates the design, manufacture, and repair of
production injection molding tooling used by Micron, NEM, and
MIT. The division enjoys a loyal customer base in die casting,
plastic blow molding as well as thermoplastic injection
molding. Micron and its divisions benefit from an in-house source for
injection molding tooling as well as new capabilities in the production of metal
components. By late 2008, LTD will be physically integrated into the
Fitchburg complex.
Micron
Integrated Technologies (“MIT”), a division of Micron, formed in January 2006,
specializes in the production of metal and plastic components and assemblies for
the medical and defense industries. Leveraging the high quality
manufacturing of the NEM division’s plastic production capacity and LTD’s
production capabilities with a comprehensive portfolio of value-added
manufacturing, design and engineering services, the division provides complete
product life cycle management: from concept to product development, prototyping,
volume production, and assembly. The success of the division, which
is located in the Mill building in the Fitchburg complex, is dependent on a
comprehensive network of small highly specialized manufacturing partners to
produce a wide variety of component parts for the manufacture of the division’s
products.
The
following table sets forth for the periods specified, the revenue derived from
the products of ART and its subsidiary Micron (collectively the
"Company"):
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
%
|
|
2006
|
|
%
|
Sensors
|
|
$ |
9,510,871 |
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
$ |
10,840,418 |
|
|
|
56 |
|
Other
molded products
|
|
|
3,161,497 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
6,866,517 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
Snaps
and snap machines
|
|
|
130,385 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
496,092 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Other
products
|
|
|
6,685,009 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
1,115,079 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
19,487,762 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
$ |
19,318,106 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
Sensors
Micron is
a manufacturer and distributor of silver-plated and non-silver plated conductive
resin sensors for use in the manufacture of disposable electrodes for ECG
diagnostic, monitoring and related instrumentation. The type of
sensor manufactured by Micron consists of a molded plastic substrate plated with
a silver / silver chloride surface, which is a highly sensitive conductor of
electrical signals. Silver / silver chloride-plated disposable
electrodes are utilized in coronary care units, telemetry units, and for other
monitoring purposes. In addition to the traditional ECG tests,
disposable electrodes incorporating Micron’s sensor are used in connection with
stress tests, Holter monitoring, and event recorders.
Micron
also manufactures sensors and conductive plastic studs used in the manufacture
of radio translucent electrodes. The radio translucent conductive
plastic studs are manufactured with uniquely engineered resin to enable
electrical conductivity between the sensor and the recording instrument without
the use of a metal snap. The radio translucent electrodes are
virtually invisible to X-rays and are preferred in some medical environments
such as nuclear medicine, cardiac catheterization laboratory, and certain stress
procedures. Micron also manufactures the mating conductive resin
snaps, which replace traditional metal snap fasteners, used in the radio
translucent application.
Other
custom designed sensors are manufactured for specific unique applications in the
EEG, EMG or TENS markets. Recent growth in the volume of highly
engineered EEG sensors reflects the increasing demand for noninvasive measuring
of neurological impulses. Micron’s strength in design and low cost
manufacturing support enables our customers to grow into unique niche medical
applications and electrophysiological monitoring with custom designed
sensors.
Other
Molded Products
Micron
also sells high volume precision custom molded component parts. The
Company’s sales in these high volume molded products diversify our existing
product lines while utilizing previously unused manufacturing
capacity. To defray the customer’s upfront tooling costs and remain
competitive with global competition, some high volume customers require the
financing of a customer specific tool over several years. The cost of
the tool is guaranteed by the customer and repaid over time as the molded
product is shipped.
The
inclusion of the NEM division in the Micron molding facility in 2004 increased
production flexibility, and dramatically expanded the size and shape of
products. From consumable medical products to medical equipment
components, this division has decreased our dependence on sensor production for
manufacturing growth. In order to leverage the NEM division’s
thermoplastic injection molding capabilities, the MIT division produces
assemblies using plastic molded components produced by NEM and assembled with
outsourced and internally produced metal components.
Snaps
and Snap Machines
Metal
Snap Fasteners
Metal
snap fasteners are used as an attachment and conductive connection between the
disposable electrode and the lead wires of an ECG machine. Micron
purchases the metal snap fasteners for resale from multiple suppliers and
performs additional quality assurance tests, repackages and stocks product for
its customers who may or may not purchase the snaps in addition to Micron’s
sensors.
High
Speed Electrode Assembly Machine
Certain
manufacturers of disposable medical electrodes use the Company’s attaching
machines in the assembly of sensors and snaps into disposable
electrodes. Manufacturing, leasing, selling, and providing
replacement parts to medical sensor and snap application machines provide Micron
with a complimentary product to sell to existing sensor and snap
customers. As a value added service, a technician can be dispatched
to troubleshoot and improve the performance of our customers’ fully automated
electrode assembly production lines.
Other
Products
Subassembly
and metal component manufacturing
The MIT
division’s product life cycle management program is focused on the integration
of plastic and metal components into subassemblies. The value added
service of in house product capabilities combined with a network of
subcontracted specialty coatings, metallurgical treatments, and unique
production abilities has diversified this product line to include defense
industry consumables and equipment subassemblies for medical device
components.
Injection
Molding Tooling
The
design, manufacture, and rehabilitation of injection molding tools for our
customers are part of the service package provided by the NEM
division. The design and manufacture of tooling is a leading
indicator of future product revenue. Engineering and mold designers
work with our customers’ product development engineers to design and produce
unique tooling for their products. Micron’s expertise in cost
effective manufacturing creates a sustainable partnership with our customers as
prototyped parts move to full scale production.
The LTD’s
primary product is thermoplastic injection molding tooling. The
division provides cost savings to Micron by vertically integrating mold making
and repair into the structure of Micron’s sensor and custom injection molding
businesses, and providing in-house services for the NEM and MIT
divisions. The division continues to generate revenues from other
customers for similar industrial applications, metal die casting molds,
investment casting wax molds, and thermoplastic injection/extrusion blow
molds.
Custom
Manufactured Metal Medical Devices
During
2007, a medical machining cell was built for the custom computer aided design
and computer controlled metal machining of patient specific orthopedic medical
device components. The new manufacturing space includes a machine
programming office with the latest technology in computer programming for 5-axis
machining with CNC vertical milling machines and a state of the art 5-axis
machining center. These products involve complex machining of wrought
and cast cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy into unique customized
products. No two components are identical and require precision
manufacturing verified by complex computer controlled automated coordinate
measuring equipment that measure up to 25 points per square inch. The
new space can accommodate a 50% increase in manufacturing capacity before any
physical constraints are realized to this climate controlled room.
Signal-Averaging
Electrocardiographic (SAECG) Products - Predictorâ
7
The
Predictor® 7
software is a Windows®
compatible version of Arrhythmia Research Technology’s analytical program for
the detection of Late Potentials. Predictor® 7
utilizes the unique, patented Bi-directional, Four-Pole Butterworth Filtering
technique defined as the “Standard” by the joint AHA/ACC/ESC task force on
Signal-Averaging Electrocardiography1. All clinically accepted
measurement criteria are provided: total QRS duration, duration of
the QRS under 40 µV, the RMS voltage of the last 40 msec of the QRS and the
noise level. Graphical output of the analysis is presented both on
screen and in hard copy. Predictor® 7 also
incorporates additional signal processing capabilities for clinical
research. The IntraSpect™ module permits detection of ventricular
late potentials in patients with Bundle Branch Block. P-wave signal
averaging helps predict patients at risk for atrial fibrillation and
flutter. A Heart Rate Variability module can be incorporated on the
Predictor platform.
The SAECG
product is currently used in a National Institutes for Health (“NIH”) funded
investigation into “Risk Stratification in MADIT II Type
Patients”. The primary objectives of this study are: 1. To
evaluate the predictive value of a multivariate model consisting of
pre-specified clinical and ECG parameters for predicting arrhythmic events in
Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II (“MADIT II”) type
post-infarction patients; 2. To develop a multivariate
risk-stratification model, based on a broader spectrum of pre-specified clinical
covariates and ECG parameters, and from it a risk-scoring algorithm identifying
high-risk and low-risk patient groups; this algorithm will be validated by a
cross-validation study. Such an algorithm will enable an ordering of
patients who may benefit most, and benefit least, from implantable cardiac
defibrillator (“ICD”) therapy. At the completion of this study,
estimated in 2010, and assuming favorable study results, we intend to establish
contracts with original equipment manufacturers for this product.
Windows®
is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation
1
AHA/ACC/ESC
Policy Statement: "Standards for the Analysis of Ventricular Late Potentials
Using High Resolution or Signal-Averaged Electrocardiography: A Statement by a
Task Force Committee of the European Society of Cardiology, the American Heart
Association and the American College of Cardiology. JACC Vol. 17, No. 5, April
1991:999-1006
GENERAL
Customers
and Sales
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, each of two major customers accounted for over
10% of the Company’s sales and a loss of this base would have a material adverse
effect on results. The two largest customers accounted for 27% and
25% of sales in 2007 as compared to 29% and 20% of sales for the year ended
December 31, 2006.
Micron
manufactures its sensors against purchase orders from electrode
manufacturers. The Company is aware of approximately 30 significant
manufacturers of disposable snap type, radio translucent and pre-wired
electrodes worldwide. Micron sells its sensors to most of these
manufacturers. Sales backlog is not material to Micron’s sensor
business due to the method of ordering employed by its customer base in this
competitive industry. Customers generally purchase on a single
purchase order basis without long-term commitments.
The
majority of the NEM and MIT divisions’ customers for injection molded
thermoplastic products are from the medical equipment, medical device and
defense industries. From single use medical or defense consumable
products to equipment components, the engineered production services provide
quality design and production capacity which exceed our customers’ manufacturing
requirements. Certain customers require that an inventory of their
products be maintained at all times to enable just in time delivery
schedules. A commitment from customers is required by NEM and MIT to
maintain the higher level of finished goods inventory and raw material required
for their products. These agreements allow for a more flexible
manufacturing schedule with longer more cost effective production
cycles. NEM’s primary target customer is a medical manufacturer or
development company with a need for complex custom injection molded
components. MIT’s primary target customer is a defense or medical
manufacturer or development company with a need for complete product life cycle
management from design to full production preferably combining multiple
manufacturing technologies such as plastic injection molding, metalworking,
assembly, and packaging.
The
following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the approximate
consolidated revenues and percentages of revenues derived from the sales of all
of the Company's products in its geographic markets:
|
|
Revenues
for the Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
%
|
|
2006
|
|
|
%
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
10,824,992 |
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
$ |
9,344,815 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
Canada
|
|
|
5,426,042 |
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
5,816,071 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
Europe
|
|
|
2,496,012 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
3,415,235 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Pacific
Rim
|
|
|
335,592 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
374,190 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Other
|
|
|
405,124 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
367,795 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
19,487,762 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
$ |
19,318,106 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
While
some risks exist in foreign markets, the vast majority of the Company’s
customers are based in historically stable markets. To reduce the
risks associated with foreign shipment and currency exchange fluctuations, the
title to most of our products are transferred to our customers when shipped, and
payment is required in U.S. Dollars.
To offset
the risk from fluctuations in the market price of silver, sensor customers are
usually subject to a silver surcharge or discount based on the market price of
silver at the time of shipment. The silver surcharge has become a
greater component of our product pricing as the price of silver has increased by
65% since the beginning of 2006. The Company is sensitive to the
impact of recent increases in silver cost, and continues to explore options with
our customers to help mitigate the resulting increases in
surcharges.
Marketing
and Competition
Micron
sells its sensors to manufacturers of disposable snap type and radio translucent
ECG electrodes. The Company has one major domestic competitor and
several minor competitors worldwide for sensors, and believes that its sales of
sensors exceed those of its competition in the aggregate. The sensor
and snap market is extremely price sensitive. In an effort to ensure
higher volume without a firm long term purchase order, Micron offered a rebate
program to customers. The rebates were typically paid to the customer
after the end of the calendar year if certain volume thresholds were
attained. These rebates were accrued and recorded with each sale as a
reduction of gross sales. There were no rebates recorded in 2007 as
compared with $65,263 in 2006.
The
Company markets Micron and its NEM division as a highly specialized custom
injection thermoplastic molder to new and existing customers. The
Company believes it competes effectively based on its expertise in low cost
manufacturing of high volume precision products. The complex medical
products produced by the NEM division have expanded our existing customer base
and extensively diversified the product mix. It is our intention to
continue these efforts to market to the expanded customer base and further
diversify our product offerings. Global competition creates a highly
competitive environment. To meet this challenge, the NEM and MIT
divisions focus their product development efforts on complex close tolerance
products not readily outsourced to offshore manufacturing.
Management
is currently pursuing licensing of the SAECG products to original equipment
manufacturers for integration into existing cardio diagnostic
equipment. As previously stated, the SAECG product is currently used
in a National Institutes for Health (“NIH”) funded investigation into “Risk
Stratification in MADIT II Type Patients”. At the completion of this
study and assuming favorable study results, we intend to establish multiple
contracts with original equipment manufacturers for this product.
Product
Suppliers and Manufacturing
Micron
manufactures its sensors at its Fitchburg, Massachusetts facility employing a
proprietary non-patented multi-step process. All employees sign
confidentiality agreements to protect this proprietary process. The
raw materials used by Micron are plastic resins used to mold the substrates and
silver / silver chloride chemical solutions for plating the molded plastic
substrates. Both the resins and the chemicals involved in the silver
/ silver chloride process are available in adequate supply from multiple
commodity sources. Fluctuations in the price of silver are generally
contractually passed to customers in the form of a surcharge or
discount. As insulation against unanticipated price increases, some
resins and chemicals used in the production of sensors are purchased in large
quantities to lower or stabilize prices.
Resins
used by the custom molding division are purchased for an individual customer
order, with most increases in resin costs passed on to the customer as orders
are acknowledged. Because the customer order determines the quantity
of material required, customers may, and have, guaranteed the purchase of
specific large quantities of product which allows the division to purchase raw
material at a more favorable cost thereby lowering the final cost to the
customer. The metal alloys used by the MIT division in its products
are subject to the same customer order limitations, and prices are fixed as the
customer guarantees an order.
Micron
distributes medical grade nickel-plated brass and stainless steel snap fasteners
purchased from multiple domestic and international sources. Micron
buys these snaps in bulk, performs additional quality assurance tests, and
stocks inventory to facilitate just-in-time shipments to its
customers. This business segment has decreased significantly in
revenue as price pressure has forced metal snap customers to buy direct from the
manufacturer to remain competitive.
Inventory
Requirements
Our
larger customers benefit from our ability to maintain an inventory of standard
sensors and snaps. This inventory policy allows for predictable and
planned production resulting in cost efficiencies that we are able to pass on to
our customers.
Custom
molded product is manufactured on an order by order basis. Finished
goods inventory is product made in advance of an acknowledged sales order, part
of an annual blanket order quantity, or for a specific safety stock requested by
the customer.
Research
and Development
ART's
research and development efforts focus primarily on maintaining the software
library in the SAECG product lines in a compatible platform. Our
primary focus in 2007 and 2006 was to verify the integrity of the analytical
algorithms, facilitate use of the application in the previously discussed NIH
study, and improve the stability of the software on various
platforms. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007,
and 2006, ART had research and development expenses of approximately $38,900 and
$57,200, respectively.
In 2007
and 2006, Micron’s research and development efforts resulted in $73,500 and
$7,100 of expense. Included in these efforts was a unique process
improvement to eliminate certain hazardous materials from our manufacturing
processes and new products for the medical electrode market.
Patents
and Proprietary Technology
ART
acquired three patents related to time and frequency domain analysis of
electrocardiogram signals in 1993. The technologies are utilized in
the current version of Predictor®
7. ART acquired U.S. Patent No. 5,117,833 entitled “Bi-Spectral Filtering of
Electrocardiogram Signals to Determine Selected QRS Potentials,” (the
“Bi-Spec Patent”) which expires in 2009. ART also acquired additional
patents, which cover the spectral-temporal, mapping post-processing software
packages. In March 1997, the U.S. Patent Office granted United States
Patent No. 5,609,158 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Predicting
Cardiac Arrhythmia, by Detection of Micropotentials and Analysis of all ECG
Segments and Intervals” which covers a frequency domain analysis
technique for SAECG data.
The
Company believes that ART's products do not and will not infringe on patents or
violate proprietary rights of others. In the event that ART's
products infringe patents or proprietary rights of others, ART may be required
to modify the design of its products or obtain a license. There can
be no assurance that ART will be able to do so in a timely manner upon
acceptable terms and conditions. In addition, there can be no
assurance that ART will have the financial or other resources necessary to
enforce or defend a patent infringement or proprietary rights violation
action. Moreover, if ART's products infringe patents or proprietary
rights of others, ART could, under certain circumstances, become liable for
damages, which could have a material adverse effect on earnings.
Micron
employs a highly complex, proprietary non-patented multi-step manufacturing
process for its silver/silver chloride-plated sensors. To maintain
our trade secrets associated with the manufacture of disposable electrode
sensors, key employees are required to sign non-disclosure and/or
non-competition agreements. Micron uses a patented material in the
production of some sensors. Micron paid $7,200 in 2007, and $7,100 in
2006 in royalties associated with this patent. A provisional patent
was applied for and received for a new type of product for the electrode
industry. Micron expects to have fully evaluated the commercial
viability of this product by the end of 2008.
Government
Regulation
ART’s
software products are subject to, and ART believes currently comply with,
material clearance and distribution requirements from governmental regulatory
authorities, principally the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
European Union (EU) equivalent agency. These agencies promulgate
quality system requirements under which a medical device is to be developed,
validated and manufactured. The development of the product line will
be managed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Micron’s
sensor elements are components used in medical devices designed and manufactured
by original equipment manufacturers. As such, these elements are not
required to be listed with regulatory agencies and do not require regulatory
clearance for distribution. However, because Micron primarily
distributes sensors to manufacturers for use in finished medical devices, Micron
exercises as stringent controls over its manufacturing processes and finished
products as would be required if the sensors were considered medical
devices.
The NEM
and MIT divisions manufacture parts for invasive medical devices, components for
medical equipment, patented disposable medical laboratory products, and patented
military applications. Our customers own the product designs and are,
therefore, subject to FDA, Department of Defense and EU
regulations. While such products are a part of a medical device or
other regulated equipment, our customers are the regulated entity for the
clearance of those products. NEM and MIT exercise stringent controls
over all their manufacturing operations, and comply with any special controls
required by their customers.
Environmental
Regulation
Micron’s
operations involve use of hazardous and toxic materials, and generate hazardous,
toxic and other wastes. Its operations are subject to federal, state
and local laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal
of such materials and certain waste products. Although management believes that
our safety procedures for using, handling, storing and disposing of such
materials comply with these standards required by state and federal laws and
regulations, we cannot completely eliminate the risk of accidental contamination
or injury from these materials. An insurance policy has been
purchased to mitigate this risk to the Company.
Since its
inception, Micron has expended significant funds to train its personnel, install
waste treatment and recovery equipment and to retain an independent
environmental consulting firm to regularly review, monitor and upgrade its air
and waste water treatment activities. Management continues to
evaluate and test many possible technological advances that reduce or eliminate
the need for and use of hazardous materials in our processes. The
recent acquisition of equipment to eliminate a hazardous chemical from the
process further emphasizes the commitment to the reduction and elimination of
certain hazardous processes. In 2007 and 2006, the related
expenditures for waste treatment were approximately $40,250 and $50,000,
respectively. The operational costs are expected to be similar in
2008. Micron believes that the operation of its manufacturing
facility is in compliance with currently applicable safety, health and
environmental laws and regulations.
Employees
As of
December 31, 2007, the Company had 92 full-time and 2 part-time employees
including 29 administrative, sales and supervisory personnel, 11 quality control
personnel and 54 production personnel. The employees of the Company
are not represented by a union, and the Company believes its relationship with
the employees is satisfactory.
Periodic
Reporting and Financial Information
We have
registered our common stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, and have reporting obligations, including the
requirement that we file annual and quarterly reports with the
SEC. The public may read and copy materials we file with the SEC at
the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, on
official business days during the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. You
may obtain information about the operation of the Public Reference Room by
calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site
that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information
regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at
http://www.sec.gov.
Risk
factors that may affect future operating results
In
addition to the other information in this Form 10-K, the following factors
should be considered in evaluating the Company and its business. The
risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the
Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that the Company does not
presently know or currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s
business, results of operations and financial condition.
The
Company’s operating results may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety
of factors.
Our
operating results may fluctuate significantly in the future as a result of a
variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control. These
factors include our ability to maintain our current pricing model and/or
decrease our cost of sales; increasing sales of lower margin products; the level
of demand for the products that we may develop; our ability to attract and
retain personnel with the necessary strategic, technical and creative skills
required for effective operations; the amount and timing of expenditures by
customers; variability of customer delivery requirements, continued availability
of supplies or materials used in manufacturing at current prices; the amount and
timing of capital expenditures and other costs relating to the expansion of our
operations; government regulation and general economic conditions. As
a strategic response to changes in the competitive environment, we may from time
to time make certain pricing, service, technology or marketing decisions or
business or technology acquisitions that could have a material adverse effect on
our quarterly and annual results. Due to all of these factors, our
operating results may fall below the expectations of securities analysts,
stockholders and investors in any future period.
If
trade secrets are not kept confidential, the secrets may be used by others to
compete against us.
Micron
relies on unpatented trade secrets to protect its proprietary processes as there
are no assurances that others will not independently develop or acquire
substantially equivalent technologies or otherwise gain access to our
proprietary process. Ultimately the meaningful protection of such
unpatented proprietary technology cannot be guaranteed. The Company relies on
confidentiality agreements with its employees. Remedies for any
breach by a party of these confidentiality agreements may not be adequate to
prevent such actions. Failure to maintain trade secret protection, for any
reason, could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Dependence
on a limited number of customers.
In the
fiscal years 2007 and 2006, 52% and 49%, respectively of the Company’s revenues
were derived from individual customers with 10% or more of the total
sales. The loss of any one or more of these customers would have an
immediate significant adverse effect on our financial results. In an
effort to maintain this customer base, more favorable terms than might otherwise
be agreed to could be granted. Currently, the Company generally does
not receive purchase volume commitments extending beyond several months. Large
corporations can shift focus away from a need for our product with little or no
warning.
The
majority of our revenues are derived from the sale of a single
product.
In fiscal
years 2007 and 2006, the Company derived 49% and 56%, respectively, of its
revenues from medical electrode sensors for use in disposable
electrodes. While the technology in electrode sensors has been used
for many years, there is no assurance that a new patented or unpatented
technology might not replace the existing market for disposable electrode
sensors. Any substantial technological advance that eliminates our
product will have a material adverse effect on our operating
results.
The
Company is subject to stringent environmental regulations.
The
Company is subject to a variety of federal, state and local requirements
governing the protection of the environment. These environmental
regulations include those related to the use, storage, handling, discharge and
disposal of toxic or otherwise hazardous materials used in or resulting from the
Company’s manufacturing processes. Failure to comply with
environmental law could subject the Company to substantial liability or force us
to significantly change our manufacturing operations. In addition,
under some of these laws and regulations, the Company could be held financially
responsible for remedial measures if its properties are contaminated, even if it
did not cause the contamination.
The
Company may make acquisitions of companies, products or technologies that may
disrupt the business and divert management’s attention, adversely impacting our
results of operations and financial condition.
The
Company may make acquisitions of complementary companies, products or
technologies from time to time. Any acquisitions will require the
assimilation of the operations, products and personnel of the acquired
businesses and the training and motivation of these
individuals. Management may be unable to maintain and improve upon
the uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies if the Company fails in
this integration. Acquisitions may cause disruptions in operations
and divert management’s attention from day-to-day operations, which could impair
our relationships with current employees, customers and strategic
partners. The Company also may have to, or choose to, incur debt or
issue equity securities to pay for any future acquisitions. The
issuance of equity securities for an acquisition could be substantially dilutive
to our stockholders’ holdings. In addition, our profitability may
suffer because of such acquisition-related costs or amortization costs for other
intangible assets. If management is unable to fully integrate
acquired businesses, products, technologies or personnel with existing
operations, the Company may not receive the intended benefits of such
acquisitions. The Company is not currently party to any agreements,
written or oral, for the acquisition of any company, product or
technology.
If
the Company is unable to keep up with rapid technological changes, our
processes, products or services may become obsolete and
unmarketable.
The
medical device and medical software industries are characterized by
technological change over time. Although the Company attempts to
expand our technological capabilities in order to remain competitive,
discoveries by others may make our processes or products obsolete. If
the Company cannot compete effectively in the marketplace, our potential for
profitability and financial position will suffer.
The
Company could become involved in litigation over intellectual property
rights.
The
medical device industry has been characterized by extensive litigation regarding
patents and other intellectual property rights. Litigation, which would likely
result in substantial cost to us, may be necessary to enforce any patents issued
or licensed to us and/or to determine the scope and validity of others'
proprietary rights. In particular, our competitors and other third
parties hold issued patents and are assumed to hold pending patent applications,
which may result in claims of infringement against us or other patent
litigation. The Company also may have to participate in interference
proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which
could result in substantial cost, to determine the priority of
inventions.
A
product liability suit could adversely affect our operating
results.
The
testing, manufacture, marketing and sale of medical devices of our customers
entail the inherent risk of liability claims or product recalls. If our
customers are involved in a lawsuit, it is foreseeable that the Company would
also be named. Although the Company maintains product liability
insurance, coverage may not be adequate. Product liability insurance is
expensive, and in the future may not be available on acceptable terms, if at
all. A successful product liability claim or product recall could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and ability to
market product in the future.
The
Company’s conversion to a new enterprise resource planning solution may not
provide expected benefits.
We have
recently converted substantially all of our operational and financial functions
to a new enterprise resource planning ("ERP") software system. The ERP system
impacts every aspect of our operations, including production, engineering,
finance, and sales. Although we have taken steps we believe are reasonable to
ensure a successful conversion of our operations to the ERP system, we can
provide no assurances that the conversion will be successful or that the ERP
system will achieve its expected benefits. Failure to achieve a successful
conversion or to obtain the expected benefits of the ERP system could have an
adverse material effect on us.
The
Company may be exposed to potential risks relating to our internal control over
financial reporting and our ability to have those controls attested to by our
independent registered public accounting firm.
As
directed by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX 404”), the
Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rules requiring public companies to
include a report of management on the company’s internal control over financial
reporting in their annual reports, including Form 10-K. In addition,
the independent registered public accounting firm auditing a company’s financial
statements must also attest to and report on management’s assessment of the
effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as well
as the operating effectiveness of the Company’s internal
controls. The Company was not subject to these requirements for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. We are evaluating our internal
control systems in order to allow our management to report on, and our
independent auditors attest to, our internal controls, as a required part of our
Annual Report on Form 10-K beginning with our report for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009.
While we
expended significant resources beginning in the latter part of 2008 to develop
the necessary documentation and testing procedures required by SOX 404, there is
a risk that we will not comply with all of the requirements imposed
thereby. In the event the Company no longer qualifies as a smaller
reporting company at the end of 2008, we may be subject to more stringent
requirements under SOX 404. Accordingly, there can be no assurance
that the Company will receive any required attestation from the independent
registered public accounting firm. In the event we identify
significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal controls that we
cannot remediate in a timely manner or we are unable to receive an attestation
from the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to our
internal controls, investors and others may lose confidence in the reliability
of our financial statements and our ability to obtain equity or debt financing
could suffer.
Risks
Relating To Our Common Stock
The
limited public market and trading market may cause possible volatility in our
stock price.
There has
only been a limited public market for our securities and there can be no
assurance that an active trading market in our securities will be maintained. In
addition, the overall market for securities in recent years has experienced
extreme price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market
prices of many smaller companies. The trading price of our common stock is
expected to be subject to significant fluctuations including, but not limited
to, the following:
·
|
quarterly
variations in operating results and achievement of key business
metrics;
|
·
|
changes
in earnings estimates by securities analysts, if
any;
|
·
|
any
differences between reported results and securities analysts' published or
unpublished expectations;
|
·
|
announcements
of new contracts or service offerings by us or our
competitors;
|
·
|
market
reaction to any acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures or strategic
investments announced by us or our
competitors;
|
·
|
demand
for our services and products;
|
·
|
shares
being sold pursuant to Rule 144;
and
|
·
|
general
economic or stock market conditions unrelated to our operating
performance.
|
These
fluctuations, as well as general economic and market conditions, may have a
material or adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
Director
and officer liability is limited.
As
permitted by Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation limits the liability
of our directors for monetary damages for breach of a director's fiduciary duty
except for liability in certain instances. As a result of our charter provision
and Delaware law, stockholders may have limited rights to recover against
directors for breach of fiduciary duty. In addition, our certificate of
incorporation provides that we shall indemnify our directors and officers to the
fullest extent permitted by law.
The
manufacturing facility and offices of the Company are located in two buildings
in an industrial area in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The first
building, which was purchased in April 1994, consists of a 22,000 square foot,
six story building. The second building, which was purchased in
September 1996, is over 94,000 square feet, including an antique brick three
story mill building. Commencing in 2003, the 40,000 square foot
“Mill” building portion of the second building underwent major renovations to
preserve and create functional space from a previously unusable section of the
facility. The renovations created space currently occupied by the NEM
and MIT divisions. From October 2006 to February 2007, a third
building of approximately 40,000 square feet, a fourth building of 12,000 square
feet and vacant parcel between the buildings that abut the complex were acquired
without any specific requirement for space. The Company believes the
acquisition of the adjacent property positions the Company for continued growth
in its current location. The Company believes its current facilities
are sufficient to meet current and future production needs through fiscal year
ending December 31, 2008.
The
Company is from time to time subject to legal proceedings, threats of legal
action and claims which arise in the ordinary course of our
business. Management believes the resolution of these matters will
not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial
condition.
The
shares which may be sold pursuant to this prospectus will be sold for the
respective accounts of each of the selling stockholders. Accordingly,
ART will not realize any proceeds from the sale of the shares, except that it
will derive proceeds if options currently outstanding or hereafter granted are
exercised. If exercised, such funds will be available to ART for
working capital and general corporate purposes. No assurance can be
given, however, as to when or if any or all of the options will be
exercised. All expenses of the registration of the shares will be
paid for by ART. See “Selling Stockholders” and “Plan of
Distribution.”
The
following table sets forth the name and relationship to ART of each
selling stockholder, the number of shares of common stock which each selling
stockholder (1) owned of record before the offering; (2) may acquire pursuant to
the exercise of a previously granted option or options
which hereafter may be exercisable under the Plan, all of which
shares may be sold pursuant to this prospectus; and (3) the amount of common
stock to be owned by each selling stockholder and the percentage of the class to
be owned by such stockholder, the exercise of all options granted under the
Plan, and the sale of all shares acquired upon exercise of such
options.
The
information contained in this table reflects “beneficial” ownership of common
stock within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. As of
March 31, 2008 we had 2,711,680 shares of common stock
outstanding. Beneficial ownership information reflected in the table
includes shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options issued by us
at their initial exercise prices.
Name
|
Relationship
to Us Within the
Past
Three Years
|
|
Amount
of Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned (1)
|
|
Amount
Offered
Hereby
|
|
Percentage
of
Common
Stock to
be
Owned After
the
Offering (1)
|
James
Rouse
|
Director,
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
(2) |
|
|
* |
|
E.P.
Marinos
|
Director
|
|
|
59,448 |
(3) |
|
|
10,000 |
(3) |
|
|
1.8 |
% |
Julius
Tabin
|
Director
|
|
|
126,824 |
(3) |
|
|
10,000 |
(3) |
|
|
4.3 |
% |
Paul
F. Walter
|
Director
|
|
|
72,055 |
(3) |
|
|
10,000 |
(3) |
|
|
2.3 |
% |
Jason
Chambers
|
Director
|
|
|
45,549 |
(4) |
|
|
2,000 |
(5) |
|
|
1.6 |
% |
David
A. Garrison
|
Executive
Vice President and Treasurer
|
|
|
28,000 |
(6) |
|
|
28,000 |
(6) |
|
|
* |
|
Michael
F. Nolan
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
|
|
-- |
(7) |
|
|
-- |
(7) |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(*) Less
than 1%.
|
(1)
|
Unless
otherwise noted in these notes, the Company believes that all shares
referenced in this table are owned of record by each person named as
beneficial owner and that each person has sole voting and dispositive
power with respect to the shares of Common stock owned by each of
them. In accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act,
each person’s percentage ownership is determined by assuming that the
options that are held by that person, and which are exercisable within 60
days, have been exercised and sold. The address of all persons
listed above is c/o Arrhythmia Research Technology, Inc., 25 Sawyer
Passway, Fitchburg,
MA 01420.
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(2)
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Excludes
options granted under the Plan to acquire 9,500 options which are not
currently exercisable but which vest and will be exercisable as to 1,900
shares on January 2, 2009 and each anniversary thereafter until fully
vested.
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(3)
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Includes
10,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Plan but
excludes options to acquire an additional 10,000 shares which are not
currently exercisable but which vest and will be exercisable as to an
additional 2,000 shares on January 2, 2009 and each anniversary thereafter
until fully vested.
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(4)
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Includes
35,216 shares held in the EBC Charitable Remainder Trust, for which Mr.
Chambers serves as trustee and as to which an immediate family member is
beneficiary. Mr. Chambers disclaims beneficial ownership of the
shares held by the EBC Charitable Remainder
Trust.
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(5)
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Includes
options granted under the Plan to acquire 2,000 shares but excludes
options to acquire 8,000 shares and an additional 10,000 shares which are
not currently exercisable but which vest and will be exercisable as to an
additional 2,000 shares and 2,000 shares, respectively, on or after August
4, 2008 and January 2, 2009, respectively, and each anniversary thereafter
until fully vested.
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(6)
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Represents
28,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under the Plan;
excludes options to acquire 12,500 shares which are not exercisable but
which vest and will be exercisable as to 5,000 on July 31, 2008 and as to
1,500 shares on January 2, 2009 and the remaining each anniversary
thereafter until fully vested.
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(7)
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Excludes
options granted under the Plan to acquire 10,000 shares and an additional
7,500 shares which are not currently exercisable but which options vest
and will be exercisable as to 2,000 shares and 1,500 shares on or after
June 4, 2008 and January 2, 2009, respectively, and each anniversary
thereafter until fully vested.
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In this
section of the prospectus, the term “selling stockholder” means and includes:
(1) the persons identified in the table above as the selling stockholders; and
(2) any of their donees, pledgees, distributees, transferees or other successors
in interest who may (a) receive any of the shares of our common stock offered
hereby after the date of this prospectus and (b) the offer or sell those shares
hereunder.
The
shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus may be sold from time to
time directly by the selling stockholders. Alternatively, the selling
stockholders may from time to time offer such shares through underwriters,
brokers, dealers, agents or other intermediaries. The selling
stockholders as of the date of this prospectus have advised us that there were
no underwriting or distribution arrangements entered into with respect to the
common stock offered hereby. The distribution of the common stock by the selling
stockholders may be effected in one or more transactions that may take place on
the AMEX (or another exchange or quotation system where the common stock may
trade, such as the OTCBB) (including one or more block transaction) through
customary brokerage channels, either through brokers acting as agents for the
selling stockholders, or through market makers, dealers or underwriters acting
as principals who may resell these shares on the AMEX (or another exchange or
quotation system where the common stock may trade, such as the OTCBB); in
privately-negotiated sales; by a combination of such methods; or by other
means. These transactions may be effected at market prices prevailing
at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at
other negotiated prices. Usual and customary or specifically
negotiated brokerage fees or commissions may be paid by the selling stockholders
in connection with sales of our common stock.
The
selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers in
connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise. In such
transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares of our
common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with the selling
stockholders. The selling stockholders also may sell shares short and
redeliver the shares to close out such short positions. The selling
stockholders may enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers
which require the delivery to the broker-dealer of shares of our common
stock. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise transfer such
shares of common stock pursuant to this prospectus.
The
selling stockholders also may lend or pledge shares of our common stock to a
broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may sell the shares of common stock
so lent, or upon a default the broker-dealer may sell the pledged shares of
common stock pursuant to this prospectus. Any securities covered by
this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under
Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus. The selling
stockholders have advised us that they have not entered into any agreements,
understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding
the sale of their securities. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker
acting in connection with the proposed sale of shares of common stock of the
selling stockholders.
Although
the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus are not currently being
underwritten, the selling stockholders or their underwriters, brokers, dealers
or other agents or other intermediaries, if any, that may participate with the
selling security holders in any offering or distribution of common stock may be
deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Act and any profits realized or
commissions received by them may be deemed underwriting compensation
thereunder.
Under
applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in a
distribution of shares of the common stock offered hereby may not simultaneously
engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for a period
of up to five days preceding such distribution. The selling
stockholders will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including without
limitation Regulation M, which provisions may limit the timing of purchases and
sales by the selling stockholders.
In order
to comply with certain state securities or blue sky laws and regulations, if
applicable, the common stock offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions
only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In certain states, the
common stock may not be sold unless they are registered or qualified for sale in
such state, or unless an exemption from registration or qualification is
available and is obtained.
We will
bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the
common stock offered hereby. However, the selling stockholders will bear any
brokerage or underwriting commissions and similar selling expenses, if any,
attributable to the sale of the shares of common stock offered pursuant to this
prospectus.
There can
be no assurance that the selling stockholders will sell any or all of the
securities offered by them hereby.
The
legality of the common stock to be offered hereby has been passed upon for us by
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, Washington, DC.
The
audited financial statements for our company as of the year ended December 31,
2007, incorporated by reference in this prospectus are reliant on the reports of
Carlin, Charron, & Rosen, LLP, independent registered public accountants, as
stated in their reports therein, upon the authority of that firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
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NO
DEALER, SALESMAN OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS OFFERING TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS
OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR A SOLICITATION IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY
PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN OFFER OR
SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE COMPANY OR THE
FACTS HEREIN SET FORTH SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. |
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Arrhythmia
Research
Technology,
Inc.
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397,000 Shares of
Common
Stock
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TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Prospectus Summary |
1 |
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Where You Can Find More
Information |
2 |
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Documents Incorporated by
Reference |
2 |
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The Company |
3 |
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Risk Factors |
9 |
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Properties |
11 |
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Legal Proceedings |
11 |
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Use of Proceeds |
11 |
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Prospectus
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Selling
Stockholders |
11 |
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Plan of
Distribution |
12 |
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Legal Matters |
13 |
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Experts |
13 |
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ARRHYTHMIA
RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY, INC. HAS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C., A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT WITH RESPECT TO THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY. THIS
PROSPECTUS OMITS CERTAIN INFORMA-TION CONTAINED IN THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT. THE INFORMATION OMITTED MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR CHARGE
THEREFOR.
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April 2,
2008
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PART
II
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item
3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference
The SEC
allows us to incorporate by reference information from other documents that we
file with them, which means that we can disclose important information by
referring to those documents. The information incorporated by
reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we
file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this
information.
We
incorporate by reference the documents listed below together with any amendments
thereof:
(a)
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Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed
with the SEC on March 31, 2008;
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(b)
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The
description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on
Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on February 12, 1992, including any amendment
or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description;
and
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(c)
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All
other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act prior to the sale of all of the
shares covered by this registration
statement.
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We will
provide to you, without charge, upon your written or oral request, a copy of any
or all of the documents that we incorporate by reference, other than exhibits to
those documents. Please direct requests to: Arrhythmia
Research Technology, Inc., 25 Sawyer Passway, Fitchburg,
Massachusetts 01420, Attn: Corporate Secretary; (978)
345-5000.
Item
4. Description
of Securities
Not
applicable.
Item
5. Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel
Not
applicable.
Item
6. Indemnification
of Officers and Directors
Section
145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware grants each
corporation organized thereunder, such as the Company, the power to indemnify
its directors and officers against liability for certain of their acts. Section
102(b)(7) of the Delaware Corporation Law permits a provision in the certificate
of incorporation of each corporation organized thereunder eliminating or
limiting, with specified exceptions, the personal liability of a director to the
corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director. The Company’s certificate of incorporation
contains this provision. The foregoing statements are subject to the detailed
provisions of Sections 145 and 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
Article
VI of the Company’s By-Laws provides that the Company will indemnify its
officers, directors and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the
Delaware General Corporation Law in connection with proceedings with which any
such person is involved by virtue of his or her status as an officer, director,
employee or agent. The Company maintains directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance, including a reimbursement policy in favor of the
Company.
The
By-Laws may require the Company, among other things, to indemnify directors or
officers against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or
service as directors (other than liabilities resulting from willful misconduct
of a culpable nature), to advance expenses to them as they are incurred,
provided that they undertake to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately
determined by a court that they are not entitled to indemnification, and to
obtain and maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance if available on
reasonable terms.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Arrhythmia has been advised that in the
opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Item
7. Exemption
from Registration Claimed
Not
applicable.
Item
8. Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
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Description
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4.1
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Arrhythmia
Research Technology, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan, as
amended
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5.1
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Opinion
of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole, LLP
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23.1
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Carlin,
Charron & Rosen, LLP Consent
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23.2
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Ellenoff
Grossman & Schole, LLP Consent (included in Exhibit
5.1)
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24.1
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Power
of Attorney contained on the signature page of this Registration
Statement.
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Item
9. Undertakings
1)
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The
undersigned registrant hereby
undertakes:
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(a)
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To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration
statement:
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(i)
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To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act
of 1933;
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(ii)
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To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement, Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the
volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities
offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from
the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than a twenty percent (20%) change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration
Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
and
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(iii)
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To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution
not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration
statement.
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Provided,
however, that paragraphs 1(a)(i) and 1(a)(ii) do not apply if the registration
statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the information required to be included
in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference herein.
(b)
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That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
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(c)
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To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
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2)
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The
undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of
an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
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3)
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Insofar as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to
directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to
the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such
issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that
it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Fitchburg, Massachusetts, on the 2nd day of April, 2008.
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ARRHYTHMIA
RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY, INC.
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By:
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/s/
David A. Garrison
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David
A. Garrison
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Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
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POWER
OF ATTORNEY
Each of
the undersigned officers and directors of the Registrant whose signature appears
below hereby appoints David A. Garrison and James E. Rouse, jointly and
individually, as attorneys-in-fact for the undersigned with full power of
substitution, to execute in his or her name and on behalf of such person,
individually, and in each capacity stated below, this Registration Statement on
Form S-8 and one or more amendments (including post-effective amendments) to
this Registration Statement and any related registration statement under Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 as the attorney-in-fact shall deem
appropriate, and to file any such amendment (including exhibits thereto and
other documents in connection herewith) to this Registration Statement on Form
S-8 or Rule 462(b) registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or either of them, may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/
James E. Rouse
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April
2, 2008
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James
E. Rouse
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President,
Chief Executive Officer and
Director
(principal executive officer)
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/s/
David A. Garrison
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April
2, 2008
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David
A. Garrison
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Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(principal financial officer)
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/s/
E. P. Marinos
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April
2, 2008
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E.
P. Marinos
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Chairman
of the Board and Director
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/s/
Julius Tabin
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April
2, 2008
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Julius
Tabin
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Director
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/s/
Paul F. Walter
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April
2, 2008
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Paul
F. Walter
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Director
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/s/
Jason R. Chambers
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April
2, 2008
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Jason
R. Chambers
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Director
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
Number
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Description
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4.1
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Arrhythmia
Research Technology, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan, as
amended
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24.1
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Power
of Attorney contained on the signature page of this Registration
Statement
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